Self-propelled potato digger



Jan. 18, 1938.

J. C. HALOUSEK SELF PROPELLED POTATO DIGGER Filed Dec. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Josspn C. HALOUSEK .INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 18, 1938. J. c. HALOUSEK SELF PROPELLED POTATO DIGGER Filed Dec. 23, 1936 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica SElF-PBQPELLED POTATO BIGGER Joseph 0. Halousek, Malia, ores. Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,388

3 Claims. (Cl. 55-51) This invention relates to diggers and is particularly adapted for the converting of a potato digger into a self propelled vehicle.

At the present time potato diggers are drawn by outside sources of power, the conveyor receivlng its power from the wheels of the diggen' In my present invention the primary object is to provide a potato digger with a power plant for propelling the digger itself along the ground, at the same time providing power for driving the conveyor chain.

Another object of my invention is to provide different speeds for operating the digger which is important in different classes of soil.

A further object of my invention is to provide a driving means for propelling the digger that can be reversed so that turns can be more easily made.

A still further object of my invention is to provide driving means forthe digger conveyor that can be reversed so that the conveyor can be readily cleaned in case it becomes clogged.

And a still further object of my invention is to build a potato digger that will follow the rows of potatoes, due to the arrangement of the steering wheels being close together relative to the width of the digger,

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my new and improved self-propelled digger, parts removed and broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, parts removed and broken away for convenience of iilustration.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, parts removed and broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the raising and lowering mechanism employed to manipulate the digger blade.

Figure 5 is the rear axle assembly, with fragmentary parts of the frame about to be assembled thereon.

Strengthening gussets 9 give rigidity to the flange l. A worm reduction gear I is fixedly mounted to the opposite end of the axle 8. Extending for ward the worm housing is a web I l terminating in a flange if. The flanges 8 and I! receive the ends of the frames I. best shown in Figures 1 and 3. Gusset plates l3 are provided on the frames i terminating in flanges I l. The flanges ll of the frames I butt against the flanges B and I! of the rear axle assembly and the butting flanges are held together by suitable fastening means as bolts 65.

The type of assembly just described makes a rigid connection between the frame of the machine and the rear axle assembly preventing the main frame i from twisting throughout its entire length. This is necessary due to the fact that the forward end 4 of the frame pivots on the front axle 5, this gives a three-point suspension which is more or less important for the proper operation of the entire machine.

The front end of the frame 4 has a downward- 2o ly extending yoke it which is pivotally mounted to the bearing block I! which forms part of the axle 5. A suitable spindle bolt I8 is provided. The wheels iii are mounted to the axle 5 identical with the well known practice used in 25 automobiles and thelike. The front wheels are controlled by the steering wheel 20, worm housing 2i and shaft 22, having theus-ual crank 23 for connecting to the steering rod 24, in the usual manner. Driving wheels are mounted to the rear axles 26. The axles 2B are driven from the worm 21 and worm wheel 28A. Within the hub of the worm wheel is the usual differential mechanism. A power plant 28 is provided for driving the vehicle over the surface of the ground and for driving the conveyor chain within the digger. This power plant is supported upon the cross frames 54 and brackets 54A.

Referring to Figure 2, the motor is indicated at 29, having the usual fly wheel housing 30 and clutch assembly 3!. The clutch is controlled from the control lever 32. A drive pinion 33 drives the beveled gear 34 within the housing 36. The beveled gear 34 drives the usual transmission assembly 37 which 'has a changed speed lever 38, the transmission is of the well known type. A propeller shaft 39, within the housing 80, drives the worm 21 which in turn rotates the worm wheel 28 and the axle 26 driving the wheels 25.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a clutch is provided for so that gears may be changed relative to the driving of the vehicle over the ground at different speeds or gear reductions.

The usual digger conveyor is shown at ll and is pivotally mounted to the frame I at 42. The

cross shaft 43 mounts the same to the frame. The blade 44 and the conveyor are raised and lowered by the usual g00se-neck 45, said gooseneck is fixedly mounted to the conveyor frame at 46. Its forward end 41 carries the lever 48, the lever is pivotally mounted at 49 and has a bell crank 50. A connecting link 5| is pivotally mounted to the bell crank 50 at 52, and terminates in its opposite end within the bracket 53, which is fixedly secured to the cross frame 54. The lever 48 is held in any fixed position by the quadrant and by the manipulation ofv lever 48 the digger blade will be raised and lowered in the usual manner. The usual conveyor chain 56 is driven by the sprockets 51 which are mounted on the shaft 58. The chain 56 is trained about the cones 59, 60 and sprockets 6|. This part is well known practice. The shaft 58 is driven by the beveled gears 62 and 63 within the housing 64, said housing is fixedly mounted at 65 to the iconveyer frame 4|.

Referring to the power plant, a sprocket 66 keyed to the forward end of crank shaft 67 drives the chain 68 which is trained about the sprocket 69, sprocket 69 drives the pinion 10 which in turn drives the pinion H, both pinions being mounted within the housing 12. mission 13 receives its power from a clutch assembly 14, said clutch being controlled by the foot pedal 15. The transmission is controlled by the lever 16. A propeller shaft 11 is slidably mounted within the sleeve TIA, said sleeve "A has a universal joint '||B connecting it to the transmission 13. The apposite end of the drive shaft 11 terminates in a universal joint 18, and next to this universal joint is a clutch 19 that will release in the event that the chain 56 becomes immovable. The stub shaft connects the clutch 19 with. the pinion 63. This assembly as just described provides a drive for the chain 56 that is variable in speed so that any speed may be had depending upon the working conditions to be met. Arches 8| are provided in the main frame so that the digger blade will not become clogged.

The machine as described above can be driven Another standard transforward at any speed by its own power or it can be reversed making it possible to turn around easily. The digger mechanism can be run at any speed and also reversed which is important in case the digger becomes clogged.

Having thus described my invention, more or less specifically, I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular form of construction shown and described as my invention may take other forms of embodiment, still coming within the scope of the claims to follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a potato digger, a main frame, wheels mounted on the main frame, a motor, gearing including a transmission between the wheels and the motor, a conveyor frame pivoted within the main frame, a digging blade extending from the forward end of the conveyor frame, an endless conveyor operating longitudinally of the conveyor frame, manually operable means for moving the conveyor frame on its pivotal support, and driving means extending longitudinally of the main frame and connected at one end to and operated by the motor, with the opposite end of the driving means driving the conveyor, said last named driving means including a transmission and universal connections to provide for controlling the speed of the conveyor independently of the speed of the digger as a whole and forpermitting pivotal adjustment of the conveyor frame without interfering with the ,driving connection for the conveyor.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the main frame is upwardly arched in vertical alignment with the blade to avoid choking the conveyor at its entrant end.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the driving means for the wheels and the driving means for the conveyor are arranged on opposite sides of the conveyor frame and in spaced relation thereto, whereby to permit adjustment of the conveyor frame and tend to balance the weight on opposite sides of the conveyor frame.

JOSEPHC. HALOUSEK. 

